Numeric Rating Scores for Self-Reported Pain Appropriate for Children

Numerical rating scale pain scores accurately measure pain intensity in relation to perceived need for medicine, pain relief and pain satisfaction in children, according to a study published in Anesthesia & Analgesia.

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The study, titled “Do 0-10 Numeric Rating Scores Translate into Clinically Meaningful Pain Measures for Children?” and published in the Dec. 2010 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, included children 7-16 years who underwent surgery associated with postoperative pain. Between one and four observations were recorded in each child within the first 24 hours postoperatively, and at each observation, children rated their pain with the NRS, stated their PNM and rated their satisfaction with pain management.

Three hundred ninety-seven observations (including 189 pairs) were recorded in 113 children. According to the report, data supported the NRS as a valid measure of pain intensity in children. NRS scores associated with PNM were significantly higher than “no need” scores, and scores above four (on a 0-10 scale) had good sensitivity to discriminate PNM.

Read the abstract of the study published in Anesthesia & Analgesia.

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